Spring-teeth for harrows and cultivators



(ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. J. NELLIS. Spring Teeth for Harrows and Cultivators. No. 234,321. Patented Nov. 9,1880.

WITNESSES.

MPEI'ERS, FHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON D (ModeL) 2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

A. J. NELLIS. Spring Teeth for Harrows and Cultivators.

No. 234,321. Patented Nov. 9,1880.

WITNESS-ES gvlzm'rnr x w/m Mm 7 W1Z2QZ/Z" NPETERS, PHGTL'MLITHQGRAFNER WASHNGTON n C IINTTEE STATES PATENT @EETCE.

AARON J. NELLIS, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPRING-TEETH FOR HARROWS AND CULTIVATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 234,321, dated November 9, 1880. Application filed October 9, 1880. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AARON J. NELLIs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Teeth for Harrows, Cultivators, &c.; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure I is a perspective view ofdevices embodying myinvention, showing the tooth and its attachment. Fig.1lis a view ofa modification. Figs. IV, V, VI, and VII are detail views. Fig. III is a detached view of a reversible tooth, which may be employed with the modified connections shown in Fig. Il.

Like letters refer to like parts wherever they occur.

My invention relates to the construction and attachment of what are termed spring-teeth or vibrating teeth for barrows, cultivators, 850.; and it consists, first, in the combination, with atooth, ota spring composed of two or more spiral coils reversely arranged, with the free ends brought to the center for the attachment of the tooth, whereby a universal vibratory motion of the tooth is obtained; secondly,.in the combination, with a harrow or cultivator tooth, of a spirally-coiled toothspring, by means of which the tooth is connected to the beam, and a relief or bearing spring arranged between the tooth-spring and beam, whereby an extended gyratory motion of the tooth is obtained; and, finally, in details of construction and in specific combinations, hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the construction of barrows, cultivators, &c., it has been found desirable to so construct the teeth that they may have a spring action, and this not only to relieve the teeth from blows, shocks, and strains, but in order that the tooth may more effectually break up the lumps and pulverize the earth.

Heretofore the construction and attachment of the spring-teeth has been such that their vibration has been principally in the line of draft, and consequently very limited. In some instances endeavors have been made to over come this by setting the face of the tooth obliquely to the line of draft, whereby a slight lateral vibration was obtained.

The object of my invention is to obtain an extended or free gyratory motion of the tooth which shall fully and effectually pulverize the earth.

I will now proceed to describe my invention more fully, so that others skilled in the art to which it appertains may apply the same.

A indicates the beam of a harrow or cultivator to which the tooth is to be applied.

B represents a coiled spiral spring for the attachment of the tooth to the beam. This sprin is preferably composed of four or more coils, formed by taking a rod ofsuitable diameter and, after having bent it upon itself, coiling it upon a mandrel in such manner as to bring the free ends Z) I) of the rod to the center, where they project and afford attachment for the tooth. Such manner of coiling not only facilitates the attachment of the tooth to the spring, but also so suspends the tooth that it has a kind of universal movement or a lateral play as well as a movement in the line of draft. The coil constitutes a spring-brace for the tooth. The upper or looped portion of the spring forms an eye, (see Fig. 11,) through which passes a pin or bolt, to, upon which the spring can be turned to present the tooth obliquely to the line of draft, and the extremity of the loop can be formed with a second eye and secured by a pin or bolt, a, adapted to holes a? in the beam, or in any other suitable manner which will permit of proper adjustment.

0 indicates the tooth, which may be so much of the arc of a circle as will constitute asingle tooth, as shown in Fig. II, or may be a semicircle, forming a double or reversible tooth, as shown in Fig. V. The mannerof attaching thetooth to the spring B may also vary, the two best methods known to me being illustrated in the drawings.

In Fig. II the connection between the tooth O and spring B is made by means of a longitudinally grooved or corrugated clamp-plate, D, between which and the tooth the free ends of the spring are held, the parts beiu g secured together by a series of bolts, (1 d. For some reasons this manner of connecting the parts is preferable, as, the tooth being curved in the are of a circle, the tooth can be readily shifted and adjusted by simply loosening the clampplate D.

Anothermethod of securing the tooth O to spring B is shown in Fig. I, and may be employed where a twisted tooth or one having a cutting-edge is desirable. In such case longitudinal grooves or corrugations are formed on the tooth, and also a notch, c, the latter of which receives a stirrup at the extremity of the toothspring B, while the corrugations or grooves receive the portions 1) b of the spring, and the tooth is thus clamped by the spring itself, the clamp-platesD (shown in Fig. II) being dispensed with.

On the beam A, and between it and the spirally-coiled toothspringB, is a curved bearingspring, E, slotted at the extremities, as at c, and secured to the beam by bolts 0. This spring may bear directly against the coiled spring 13, as shown in Fig. II, but is preferably formed with aknuckle,f, which works in a corresponding groove t'ormed in a bearing-block, F, (usually of malleable iron,) interposed between the two springs E and B, (see Fig. 1,) and in such case the block F is grooved, as at f, to receive the coils of the tooth-spring B. When this construction is adopted the eye and bolt a (see Fig. II)are dispensed with, and the knuckle f becomes the pivotal point for purposes of the oblique adjustments of the tooth.

The construction of the devices being sub stantially such as specified, their operation will be as follows: The tooth 0, being suspended on the spiral coil B, will have a compound vibrationviz., in thedirect line, or line of draft-and also, owing to the manner of its suspension, a lateral vibration, which will result in an irregular gyratory or tremulous mol tion, that effectually breaks up clods and pulverizes the earth. This gyratory motion is further increased by the vibration of the bearing-spring E, and also by setting the tooth obliquely to the line of draft, which latter can be readily done by turning the spring B on its pivot-bearing, either a orf, as the case may be.

The advantages of my invention are the simplicity and durability of construction and the increased tremulous or gyratory motion obtained.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. A spring-tooth for harrows or cultivators, composed of two reversely-coiled spirals, the ends of which terminate at the center, where they are united with the tooth, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a spring-tooth harrow or cultivator, the combination of the spirallyeoiled toothspring with the curved bearing-spring, arranged between the coiled spring and the beam, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a springtooth harrow or cultivator, the combination of the spirally-coiled toothspring with the curved bearing-s n'ing, and the interposed bearing-block, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

at. In a springtooth harrow or cultivator, the spirally-coiled tooth'spring, having a stirrup to engage with a notch in the tooth, in combination with a twisted tooth having longitudinal grooves and a notch for the reception of the stirrup of the coiled spring, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AARON J. NELLIS.

Witnesses F. \V. BITTER, Jr., H. B. MoUL'roN. 

